Bikes Etc Magazine August 2019

Last month’s Tour de Yorkshire (TDY) was the first time we got to see Team INEOS, formerly Team Sky, show off its new kit and they marked the occasion with an overall win by upcoming rider Chris Lawless. The annual race, of course, is one that’s been captured on canvas many times by local artist Lucy Pittaway, and so to celebrate we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win a print of their choice by this award-winning painter. Lucy’s work is inspired not just by the race, but by cycling in general and as well as her TDY collection, produced in her dreamlike, signature style, she also creates charming abstract images of individual cyclists or pairs of riders that are alive with speed and urgency. Whether you’re after a…

Every year, around this time, our roads suddenly seem to burgeon with cyclists. It could be the improved weather, the seasonal sales push from bike retailers, or a combination of both. I can’t help feeling, though, that the Tour de France plays a significant part in our obsession with cycling each summer. Le Tour is, after all, one of the most popular sporting events on the planet. Attracting a global TV audience of 3.5 billion, it’s right up there with the World Cup and The Olympics. And you could argue that as it takes place annually rather than every four years, it’s actually the biggest sporting event on earth. Whatever the truth, millions have been inspired to ride because of it, including reigning Tour champ Geraint Thomas who, after last…

WEIGHT: 9,98kg FRAME: Reynolds 853 Steel GROUPSET: Sram Rival 11-speed BRAKES: Sram Rivaldisc CHAINSET: Sram Rival 42t CASSETTE: Sram Rival 11-36t BARS: FSA Adventure STEM: FSA 31.8 SADDLE: Fabric Scoop SEATPOST: FSA Gossamer 27.2 WHEELS: Hope 20 FIVE-Pro4 TYRES: WTB Resolute 700x42 COST: £500 frame only CONTACT: fairlightcycles.com What is it? A steel adventure bike with dual frame geometry options and the ability to roll on multiple wheel sizes. Happy to swallow tyres up to either 650x57c or 700x45c, the Secan can be built in a myriad of ways and is happy being taken just about anywhere. Wide-tyred off-roader? Gravel-racer? Backcountry bikepacker? Or built more traditional with mudguards for touring or commuting? With plenty of mountings subtly dotted about the frame, it’s happy to be gussied up however you fancy.…

Mavic’s yellow-liveried neutral service cars and motorbikes are a ubiquitous sight at the Tour de France. Stalking among the riders, and ready to jump-in if their team cars are nowhere to be found, they carry spare wheels and bikes that can be handed out to any rider in case of a mechanical. With riders previously having to rely on their own team cars for support, the service was launched at the 1973 edition of Paris-Nice. Mavic was the first company to provide a neutral service vehicle, and by 1977 it was offering its assistance at a slew of races, including the Tour de France. Now to celebrate its involvement with the race, the French wheel and equipment maker is launching three special-edition wheelsets. Comprising the deep-section Comete, the all-around Cosmic,…

Unconventional in multiple ways, these new bars from Genetic aim to enhance comfort and control compared to traditionally shaped alternatives. Most instantly noticeable is their 20mm rise. This radical elevation sees their profile swoop upwards as they extend out from the stem clamp area. Plonking riders high above the position of most flat-topped models, they’ll relieve pressure on your back and shoulders and reduce weight on the front wheel. For the user, the effect is the same as increasing the stack height of the bike, but without the need for a long and ungainly headtube. The tops are then ergonomically designed to match the profile of the rider’s palm, while the shallow drops flare out dramatically to add an extra 93mm of width. Providing both added comfort for your wrists,…

Whether keeping in contact with your fellow riders as you spread out over the mountainside, pretending you’re at work by receiving calls on the go, or listening to The Cycling Podcast. Terrano Systems’ out-of-ear headphone unit will keep you connected as you ride. Linking to a smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0, multiple units can also communicate like walkie-talkies over a range of up to 1.2 kilometres. Perfect for pointing out upcoming traffic or other hazards to following riders, they could also transform your bumbling mates into a coordinated race team in time for your next sportive. When riding solo the Terrano XT is also able to play tunes from your phone or receive calls via voice command. Used either way, thanks to its external speakers, it won’t cut out ambient noise,…